PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Margarito Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kido Shojiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Thomas
vs
Shojiro

195 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Margarito Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kido Shojiro!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for Shojiro on that attempt.
Shojiro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shojiro somewhat.
Thomas appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Shojiro has his takedown stuffed
and Thomas counters with a right hand to the body.
Margarito Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kido Shojiro.

Shojiro pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shojiro jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Shojiro around his waist. Shojiro gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thomas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Thomas lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas stalling.
Shojiro can't get the takedown.
Thomas has Shojiro pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thomas gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

Thomas manages to pull guard.
Thomas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Shojiro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shojiro can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thomas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shojiro on the ground.
Thomas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Shojiro wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Shojiro trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.

Thomas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Shojiro tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thomas is in Shojiro's guard.
Shojiro trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
Thomas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shojiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shojiro is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Thomas with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Shojiro gets a clinch.
Thomas has Shojiro pressed against the cage.
Thomas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thomas is stalling here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Margarito Thomas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horrible takedown attempt by Shojiro or perhaps it was just good defense by Thomas, which made it look bad.
Thomas tries to counter with a takedown but Shojiro is quick to defend against it.
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shojiro can do to turn this around?
Shojiro shoots and misses

and Thomas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Thomas is struggling to control the position.
Thomas lands a hook that snaps the head of Shojiro backwards.
Shojiro wants a takedown but no success here.
Margarito Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kido Shojiro.
Thomas controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas has Shojiro pressed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Margarito Thomas.

Thomas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is taking a breather. Shojiro says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Shojiro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thomas wants to stand up but Shojiro has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Shojiro trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Thomas manages to pass to mount!
Thomas sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Shojiro tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas avoids the attempt from Shojiro to control.
Thomas controlling from mount.
Shojiro tries to hold on but Thomas postures up.
Shojiro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shojiro regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Shojiro.
Shojiro wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
Shojiro is still trying to improve position.
Shojiro is breathing heavily.
Shojiro is looking to get back to full guard here but Thomas has managed to pass to side control instead.
Shojiro is trying to escape the position but Thomas is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Thomas decides to stand back up. Thomas steps back and let's Shojiro get back to his feet.
Shojiro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomas as he jumps to the side.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Shojiro won't let him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas distracts Shojiro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Shojiro is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Margarito Thomas dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Shojiro kicks Thomas off and gets back to his feet.

Thomas manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Shojiro on his heels. He'll look to pass Shojiro's guard now, I'm sure.
Thomas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shojiro's head.

Shojiro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shojiro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Shojiro is looking for a triangle but Thomas pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Thomas landing with the ground and pound.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Shojiro won't let him.
Thomas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Thomas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thomas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shojiro's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shojiro trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shojiro tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily

and Thomas counters by clinching up.
Thomas is stalling here.
Thomas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Shojiro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thomas slows down the pace here.
Thomas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Margarito Thomas.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Thomas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kido Shojiro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shojiro is trying to control Thomas's posture but Thomas avoids it.
Thomas gets to mount! Shojiro was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas controlling from the full mount.
Shojiro tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Thomas content just to control the position here.
Thomas seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Shojiro for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shojiro slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Margarito Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thomas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Margarito Thomas!